Home Psychiatry Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD Effective Even in Compressed Format

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD Effective Even in Compressed Format

Both massed and intensive forms of prolonged exposure therapy tied to six-month improvements in PTSD

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Both massed and intensive outpatient forms of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy are fast and effective for combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published online Jan. 5 in JAMA Network Open.

Alan L. Peterson, Ph.D., from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and colleagues randomly assigned 234 military personnel and veterans to massed-PE (15 therapy sessions of 90 minutes each over three weeks) or intensive outpatient program PE (IOP-PE; 15 full-day therapy sessions over three weeks with eight treatment augmentations).

The researchers found that Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores decreased in both treatment groups at the one-month follow-up. During six-month follow-up, PTSD symptoms increased in massed-PE participants, while IOP-PE participants maintained treatment gains. PTSD Checklist scores decreased in both groups from baseline to one-month follow-up and were maintained at six months. Posttreatment, both groups had notable PTSD diagnostic remission (IOP-PE: 48 percent; massed-PE: 62 percent), which was maintained at six months (IOP-PE: 53 percent; massed-PE: 52 percent).

“The compressed treatment formats evaluated in this study also provide a potential for new alternative modes of therapy using combined treatments, medications, and devices,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Copyright © 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.